The hope of a leper colony in Srinagar

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease and mainly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract and eyes. It can occur at all ages and is likely transmitted through droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.

With no medication back then to treat the disease, Bajad's family left him on his own before he found his way to the leper colony in Srinagar.

"I had nowhere to go. My family left me at god's mercy. I was devastated. But after arriving here I got a new lease on life," he said.

Nothing short of a miracle.

In the 1980s, after the discovery of medicines labeled as multidrug therapy (MDT), leprosy became a treatable disease. The medicine was nothing short of a miracle for patients like Bajad, who till then were considered "untouchables" by society.

Living in the colony for the past 60 years, Bajad has not only been cured but also gotten married and started a new family.

"When I arrived in this colony, there were many like me, who too were abandoned by their families and were on their own. It gave me hope that I am not alone in this," he said. "I found a new life here and it is my home now."

The colony, which currently consists of around 71 leprosy patients, is the only rehabilitation center of its kind in the Valley. Built during the 19th century under the Kashmir Medical Mission by Britishers, the colony, which gives a serene feeling because of its green ambiance, consists of 62 quarters, a mosque, a double storied hospital and a graveyard.

The colony is currently looked after by the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir. The department provides food, medicine and clothes to the patients. They also receive a monthly allowance from the social welfare department.

Married with children

Though the people, belonging to different places, were initially compelled to live a life in exile in the colony, over the years, their bonhomie, love and care for each other have made this place their permanent home.

Sharifuddin Sheikh, who is the spokesperson of the Leprosy Association that consists of the elderly people of the colony, said that after finding treatment for the disease, most of them who were abandoned by their families got married and started a new life here.

"Many of us, whose families have left them alone fearing that they too will catch the disease, later got married here after receiving proper medical treatment," Sheikh, who is blessed with two healthy children, said.

"It has been 35 years now since I have been living here. In 1994, I got married to a woman who, like me, had no one else in her life," he said. "I have two sons. One has done post-graduation and is working in a private company. Both my sons are healthy and are living a normal life."

I came here when I had no one in my life.

Sheikh's wife Zarifa is also content in the colony. "I came here when I had no one in my life. My life was full of hopelessness. But god gave me a good husband and caring children," Zarifa said.

Sheikh said they all live like a big family in the colony.

"Everybody knows each other here. It is like a big joint family. We look after many patients who are old and have no family. Besides, there is always a medical team on duty in the hospital, which looks after all of us," Sheikh said.

Sheikh said it has been many years since any new patient arrived in the colony.

Junaid Kathju is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar. He tweets@JunaidKathjoo.